Maharashtra Becomes First State to Unlock Second Rs 335-Crore RKVY Installment After Surpassing 75% Fund Utilisation

New Delhi, Jul 27 (KNN) Maharashtra has become the first State to qualify for the second installment under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) after utilising more than 75 percent of the first installment released under the scheme.

The information was provided during a virtual review meeting chaired by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan to assess the utilisation of RKVY funds and implementation of the scheme in Maharashtra.

The Government of India had released Rs 335 crore as the first installment to Maharashtra, of which the State has utilised approximately Rs 260 crore. The State has crossed the prescribed 75 percent utilisation benchmark, making it eligible for the second installment of Rs 335 crore. The process for releasing the second installment is being taken up.

During the review, progress under various RKVY components was assessed. The State was advised to accelerate expenditure under Digital Agriculture, Agriculture Extension, the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Seeds, Oilseeds and Agroforestry. Pending liabilities under the Seeds component were also discussed.

Progress under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) was also reviewed.

A separate discussion was held on the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The Minister stressed the need for farmers to provide accurate information while applying for crop insurance and clarified that both Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and non-KCC farmers are eligible for crop insurance benefits.

The review meeting was attended by Maharashtra Minister of State for Agriculture Dattatray Bharane, senior officials of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, and officers of the Government of Maharashtra.

(KNN Bureau)